CHRISTMAS arrived in Glasgow last night as the city's biggest and best schools musical extravaganza came to town.

CHRISTMAS arrived in Glasgow last night as the city's biggest and best schools musical extravaganza came to town.

The first of two joint schools Christmas concerts raised the roof at the City Halls, as pupils from primaries and secondaries across the city gathered together for a fantastic festive celebration.

Around 1000 people crowded into the venue to hear three string ensembles, a pipe band, a choir, a concert band, a big band and a full symphony orchestra play a range of music.

More than 450 children and young people, from north, south, east and west Glasgow, took part - and the delighted audience gave them a rapturous tribute at the end of the night.

The pupils - who are aged between five and 18 - have been rehearsing since September, and each group performed its own 10-minute slot before coming together at the end of the show for a brilliant finale.

But there was a last-minute panic when presenter Caledon's Jamie MacDougall had to pull out because he was too ill to attend.

The Evening Times - the event's media partner - stepped in and contacted Real Radio.

Paul Harper, who presents the 10am show took over as presenter and did a great job - but a replacement for tonight's show is still urgently needed.

Tickets had been snapped up within a week of going on sale. The second concert, which will also play to a packed house of 1000 people, takes place this evening.

Neil Robertson, music adviser, said organisers were absolutely "over the moon" about the success of the evening.

"Everyone who took part had an amazing time, and the atmosphere was incredible," he said.

"It was a real tribute to the hard work put in by the pupils, tutors and conductors at rehearsals over the last few months. The standard, as always, was superb - it was a spectacular occasion."

Jingle bells and big bands

By Ann FotheringhamA FEAST of music was on the menu at the joint schools Christmas concert last night.

From festive favourites such as Jingle Bells and In the Bleak Midwinter to traditional tunes The Piper's Cave and Scotland the Brave, the programme included a range of genres and styles.

The Concert Band kicked things off with a rousing version of the 12 days of Christmas, followed by a beautiful rendition of Lift Up Your Voice Alleluia by primary school choir the Voice Factory.

Other highlights included the String Orchestra's fabulous version of the Theme from the Simpsons, the String Training Orchestra's powerful Rite at Stonehenge, the Pipe Band's roof-raising medley incorporating Scotland the Brave and the Big Band's cool yule selection, including Silent Night and Swingin' them bells.

A Christmas sing-along with the Symphony Orchestra had everyone joining in, and the finale performance of Flower of Scotland, when all the groups came together, was breathtaking.